Most digital cameras have built-in flash - sadly, many people don't know how to turn them off, a fact most noticeable at large public events!

A built-in flash particularly in a compact camera is intended for indoor social photography, not for illuminating vast spaces. It is a conceit to think that the humble compact is capable of such a Herculean task, so they are best turned off.

The factory default is Auto, so the flash will fire whenever the light intensity drops below a certain level. Usually there are three further settings - Red-eye, On or Off, the last being particularly useful!

Red-eye setting is also useful, but the photographer will notice a slight delay before the picture is taken. This is because the flashgun operates a pre-flash for red-eye which adjusts the sitter's eyes before the main flash fires.

Outdoors even on a dull day the flash should be turned off. It will have little or no effect, unless you are knowledgeable about fill-in flash. That would require a more advanced camera that can control the amount of flash delivered to the subject, a technique much loved by wedding photographers.

Flash is very selective. When photographing a family group in the centre of a room, the background will be underexposed. Furthermore beware of reflective surfaces, especially glass and even polished wood, they will burn-out.